Sheath for an umbrella

ABSTRACT

The sheath includes a carrying strap which overlies the open end of the sheath. The carrying strap has different attachment points on the sheath so it can assume a handle condition or alternatively it can assume a cover condition over the open end of the sheath.

United States Patent [72] In ento s F i r sh y [50] FieldofSearch............. .............,.,...m....... l35/33C 20, 25. 26; 150/52, 52]. 52.2v 52.8. 52.4

Solingen-Ohligs, Germany;

References Cited Werner Ludwig, Paris, France 810,538

C 3 3 5 3 S. Tm N Mm PM B M u 0 m l a S "2 N3 m 2 4 8 m m UN ,9 6] J9 ab e MF 0 e m mm .da FP T 9 M 2 5 0 5 1 mn y w mM e f. Vm e Pb 7 a rw 1 M mm mA W 4 m 1 m0 n 301A 8 6 39 dl Mus .lall .m r L ymi e h u 6 00 mlliv. m m mrS mm e e TMMG e m M g f o S H A P. l 1]] 3 23 7 333 l [ll P 17 57 103.8 and? i7 57 241.7

it can assume a handle condition or alternatively it can assume a cover condition over the open end of the sheath.

ABSTRACT: The sheath includes a carrying strap which overlies the dpen end of the sheath. The carrying strap has dif- 135/33 ferent attachment points ion the sheath so A45b 25/18, A45b 25/24 [54] SHEATH FOR AN UMBRELLA 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[51] int Cl SNEU b [1F 4 PATENTED FEB 9 an FIG. 7

FIG. 8'

INVENTORS 19/: l lwzer U/D W/G r can" J SHEATI-I FOR AN UMBRELLA BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to a sheath for an umbrella and more particularly to a carrying strap associated with such a sheath.

2. Description of Prior Art Many different types of sheaths have been developed for umbrellas, whether the umbrella be of the fixed or telescopic stick type. In most cases, these sheaths comprise a sleeve; and the sleeve comprises a closed end and an open end for inserting a closed umbrella. Some sheaths, particularly those used for the telescopic stick type of umbrella or collapsible umbrella, have covers which comprise a hinged flap overlying the open end of the sheath. Others are provided with handles either connected to the sheath or to the handle of the umbrella stowed in the sheath. In the latter case, it is quite easy for the sheath to slip off and be lost, while the stowed umbrella is being carried by a handle strap, when the open end is closed by means of a cover or a wall provided with a slide fastener. It is usually costly from the production point of view and has disadvantages in manipulation. Above all, considerable difficulties arise when cases of this kind are to be'designed for socalled flat umbrellas in which thehandle of rectangular cross section has seats provided for the ends of the dome ribs on'the side remote from the stick. It has been found that when a flat umbrella of this kind is placed in the sheath, a final adjustment of the dome-rib ends usually has to be made, in order to obtain the correct grouping for the dome-rib ends to enter the seats.

It is an aim of the present invention to design a sheath for an umbrella in which no additional cover is required, in spite of special openings which may be provided for access to the handle and the ends of the dome ribs of the umbrella.

Generally, a sheath in accordance with the present invention includes a sleeve having a closed end and an open end; a carrying strap having end portions and a loop portion adapted to cooperate with the sheath, means for fastening the carrying strap to opposite portions of the sleeve such that when the end portions of the carrying strap are fastened to the sheath by the fastening means, the loop portion overlies the open end of the sheath. The fastening means are adjustable whereby the effective loop portion length of the carrying strap can be adjusted to at least two different length portions.

In a preferred embodiment, one of said loop length portions of the carrying strap and fastening means is such that the loop portion of the strap is tight over the open end of the sheath and acts as a cover when an umbrella is in the sheath and the other position is such that a relatively great loop length is provided to fonn an effective carrying handle for the sheath.

In another preferred manner of construction, the carrying strap is part of the umbrella handle and the two end portions are adapted to slide through the handle and be fastened to the sleeve portion of the sheath when the umbrella is in the sheath.

Preferably, the above sheaths and handles are designed for the collapsible type of umbrella and more particularly for a collapsible umbrella which assumes a flat substantially rectangular or oval cross section when collapsed, as described in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 717,523, filed Apr. 1, 1968, Paul Kraft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, particular reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, the further embodiments thereof, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a preferred sheath for an umbrella of the collapsible flat type, with the umbrella in the sheath, and the carrying strap in a first adjusted position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sheath carrying a flat umbrella as shown in FIG. I, but with the carrying strap in a different position with the loop length of the carrying strap shorter than in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the sheath shown in FIGS. I and 2, but with the carrying strap in yet another fastened position different from that of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sheath of another embodiment and showing a flat umbrella stowed in the sheath;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the sheath and a flat umbrella stowed in the sheath;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sheath and flat umbrella of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, but with the carrying strap of the umbrella in a different position attached to the sheath;

FIG. 7 is a enlarged fragmentary side elevation partly in cross section of the sheath and flat umbrella as shown in FIGS.

5 and 6 and illustrating details of the handle of the umbrella and the carrying strap thereof;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the handle proper looking down from the umbrella stick; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross section taken along the lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Sheath l accommodating the so-called flat umbrella has narrow widthwise walls 2 and lengthwise walls 2. In the first embodiment, one end 4 is closed, while the other end defines an opening 5.

Lengthwise walls 3 project beyond widthwise walls 2, providing opposed openings for gripping the umbrella when it is required to retrieve it from the sheath.

The umbrella has a handle 6 of rectangular outline, with the narrow ends 6 facing the gripping openings of the sheath, while wide sides 6 of the handle are covered by flaps 3'.

Umbrella handle 6 fills opening 5 substantially completely.

Sheath 1 is provided with a carrying strap 7. The latter is permanently attached by one end 7' to one of the narrow widthwise walls, while free end 7" is pulled, during assembly through a guide loop 8 located near the end 5 and is provided with terminal lugs 9. This prevents carrying strap 7 from being inadvertently pulled through guideloop 8. Free end 7" is provided with the female snap-fastener part 10, while the male snap-fastener parts II and II are located at spaced-apart locations on narrow widthwise wall 2.

In the condition illustrated in FIG. I, the carrying strap 7 defines its maximum loop portion 7" as terminal lugs 9 abut against guide loop 8. This position is suitable, for example, for passing the wearer's arm through the opening in the loop and carrying the umbrella and sheath on the shoulder.

In the condition illustrated in FIG. 2, snap-fastener part 10 of strap end 7" is connected to snap-fastener part II, reducing the effective length of the loop portion 7".

In FIG. 3, the carrying strap 7 is fully extended with the end portion 7" including the female snap-fastener I0 engaged on the male fasteners 11' on the widthwise wall 2 of the sheath I. In this position, the loop portion 7" of the strap 7 closes the openings of the sheath and acts to retain the umbrella in the sheath. Since the strap 7 is only slightly of smaller width than the width of the widthwise wall 2 and the opening 5, the strap provides an effective cover for these openings.

In the embodiments shown in FIG. 4, the sheath 1 is very similar to the sheath illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the exception that both ends of the sheath are open at 5 and 5'. The handle 6 of the flat umbrella in the sheath 1 is at the open end 5, while the crown 12 is at the other open end of the sheath. In this case, the carrying strap I3 is of a length corresponding to the peripheral dimensions of the two widthwise walls and the end portions. Carrying strap I3 includes end portions 13' and 13" as well as a loop portion 13".

Female snap-fastener elements 10 are provided on each end of the strap at end portion 13' and 13" of the strap and are adapted to engage male snap-fasteners l5 and 15' located on the widthwise wall 2 at equal distances from the open ends 5 and 5'.

Located on the widthwise walls 2 near the end openings 5 and 5' are pull-through loops 16 through which'the end portions 13' and 13" of the strap 13 have been pulled through. Terminal lugs are also provided on the end portions 13' and 13" as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. It is preferable to provide pull-through loops on both widthwise walls 2 as shown in FIG. 4 to keep the carrying strap13 aligned over the open ends 5 and 5.

If it is required to have as much loop length 13 as possible, both the carrying strap ends 13 and 13" can be let loose so that the terminal lugs 9 abut against the loops 16 on the sidewall 2. If it is required to shorten the loop length 13" as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and of course the snap-fasteners can be selectively fastened to the various male snap-fasteners 15 provided on the widthwise sidewall 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 9, the embodiment shown includes the umbrella having a handle 22, fixed to the umbrella stick 21. As shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7, the runner 23 is seated in the recess 24, provided in the central portion 24' of the handle 22. Recesses 25 and 26 are provided in the lateral members of the handle 22 to receive the dome-rib ends 27. The bottom wall 28 of the handle 22 has apertures 29 for each extremity thereof in the bottom of the recesses 25 and 26 and a carrying strap 30 is located on the other side of the handle 2.2 with both end portions 30 and 30" of the strap passing through the aperture 29 and out the recesses 25 and 26. The end portions 30' and 30" of the carrying strap 30 are provided with female snap-fasteners 31 which are adapted to fasten to male snap-fasteners 32 provided at various locations on the widthwise sidewalls of the sheath 33. Of course, when the umbrella and its handle 22 are completely inserted in the sheath 33, the carrying strap 30 can be in the covering secured position shown in FIG. 7, where the female snap-fasteners 31 of the carrying strap 30 are fastened to the male snap-fasteners 32. However, if it is required to carry the umbrella and sheath as a unit, the snap fasteners 31 of the end portions 30 and 30 of carrying strap 30 can be fastened to the snap-fasteners 32 closer to the open end of the sheath 33 as shown in FIG. 6.

An additional snap-fastener 32 is shown at the lower end of the widthwise sidewall in sheath 33 in FIG. 7 of which one end portion 30" of the carrying strap 30 is fastened when the other end 30' is loosed and pulled through to abut against the bottom 28 of the handle 22.

I claim;

1. A sheath for an umbrella comprising a sleeve, having a closed end and an open end, a carrying strap having end portions and a loop portion adapted to cooperate with the sheath, means for connecting the carrying strap to opposite portions of the sleeve, such that when the end portions of the carrying strap are fastened to the sheath, the loop portions thereof overlies the open end of the sheath, and the fastening means are adjustable whereby the effective loop portion length of a carrying strap can be adjusted to at least two different length positions; the sheath having opposed narrow widthwise wall portions relative to the other sidewall portions, the fastening means being provided on the end portions of the carrying strap and on the opposed narrow sidewalls of the sheath, the fastening means of at least one of the narrow sidewalls and the end portion of the carrying strap being adjustable so that the carrying strap loop portion can have an effective carrying length in a first adjusted position, and overlies the open end of the sheath as a cover in a second position.

2. A sheath and carrying strap combination, as defined in claim 1, wherein one. of said l'oop length positions of the carrying strap and fastening is such that the loop portion of the strap is tight over the open end of the sheath and acts as a cover when an umbrella is in the sheath, and the other position is such that a relatively great loop length is provided to form an effective carrying handle for the sheath.

3. A sheath and carrying-strap combination, as defined in claim 1, in which one end portion of the carrying strap is fixed to oneof the narrow sidewall portions and the other end portion is variably fastened.

4. A sheath and carrying-strap combination as defined in claim 3, wherein uide loo 5 are provided on the narrow sidewall to which t e vanab e fastening means are provided for guiding the carrying strap.

' 5. A sheath and carrying-strap combination as defined in claim I, wherein both ends of the carrying strap can be adjustably fastened to the narrow sidewalls of the sheath.

6. A sheath and carrying-strap combination as defined in claim 1, wherein both ends of the carrying strap are adjustably fastened to the same narrow sidewall.

7. A sheath and carrying-strap combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the carrying strap is associated with the handle of a collapsible umbrella to be fitted in the sheath, and the handle defines a pair of spaced-apart apertures through which the end portions of said carrying strap are passed, abutting means are provided on the ends of the carrying strap, preventing the carrying strap from being detached from the umbrella handle, and fastening means are provided on opposite narrow side portions of the sheath securing the ends of the carrying strap in different positions. 

1. A sheath for an umbrella comprising a sleeve, having a closed end and an open end, a carrying strap having end portions and a loop portion adapted to cooperate with the sheath, means for connecting the carrying strap to opposite portions of the sleeve, such that when the end portions of the carrying strap are fastened to the sheath, the loop portions thereof overlies the open end of the sheatH, and the fastening means are adjustable whereby the effective loop portion length of a carrying strap can be adjusted to at least two different length positions; the sheath having opposed narrow widthwise wall portions relative to the other sidewall portions, the fastening means being provided on the end portions of the carrying strap and on the opposed narrow sidewalls of the sheath, the fastening means of at least one of the narrow sidewalls and the end portion of the carrying strap being adjustable so that the carrying strap loop portion can have an effective carrying length in a first adjusted position, and overlies the open end of the sheath as a cover in a second position.
 2. A sheath and carrying strap combination, as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said loop length positions of the carrying strap and fastening is such that the loop portion of the strap is tight over the open end of the sheath and acts as a cover when an umbrella is in the sheath, and the other position is such that a relatively great loop length is provided to form an effective carrying handle for the sheath.
 3. A sheath and carrying-strap combination, as defined in claim 1, in which one end portion of the carrying strap is fixed to one of the narrow sidewall portions and the other end portion is variably fastened.
 4. A sheath and carrying-strap combination as defined in claim 3, wherein guide loops are provided on the narrow sidewall to which the variable fastening means are provided for guiding the carrying strap.
 5. A sheath and carrying-strap combination as defined in claim 1, wherein both ends of the carrying strap can be adjustably fastened to the narrow sidewalls of the sheath.
 6. A sheath and carrying-strap combination as defined in claim 1, wherein both ends of the carrying strap are adjustably fastened to the same narrow sidewall.
 7. A sheath and carrying-strap combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the carrying strap is associated with the handle of a collapsible umbrella to be fitted in the sheath, and the handle defines a pair of spaced-apart apertures through which the end portions of said carrying strap are passed, abutting means are provided on the ends of the carrying strap, preventing the carrying strap from being detached from the umbrella handle, and fastening means are provided on opposite narrow side portions of the sheath securing the ends of the carrying strap in different positions. 